BAY CITY, MI — A project to revitalize and repair Bay City’s Carroll Park breaks ground Monday, Aug. 12, and organizers are looking for volunteers to roll up their sleeves and help in the endeavor.

The renovation work runs through Thursday, Aug. 15. The work is spearheaded by the Boy Scouts of America’s Water & Woods Field Service Council and a Dow Chemical Co. grant is financing the project, said Jan Rise, chairwoman of the city’s Northeast Citizens District Council.

“They’re going to replant a lot of trees, repair the playground and lay a whole new concrete plaza with the pavilion … and update the tennis courts,” Rise said. She added that perhaps the most significant improvement is the one to be rendered to the pavilion’s ramshackle roof.

“For the past three or four years, the roof has looked like it’s been ready to give out,” Rise said. “Dow is bringing dollars to this project to help get a new roof on the pavilion.”

Tom Oleniacz, the coordinator with the Boy Scouts working with the volunteer crew, said his organization applied for a grant through Dow.

“We did a similar project two years ago in Saginaw,” he said. Dow approved the grant, donating $25,000 to the effort, Oleniacz said.

Organizers of the project are hoping to recruit more volunteers to help in the restoration effort. Those wishing to offer their help can do so by signing up on Dow’s project challenge website here. The minimum age for prospective volunteers is 12 and all participants will receive a T-shirt and lunch.

Dale Klimmek, adult adviser for the youths during the project, added that organizers hope to have about 100 volunteers on hand each of the four days. He added that if the project isn't completed by Thursday, they will continue working on Friday.

“Carroll Park is a jewel in the Bay City park system that is used by many residents from the area, not just city residents,” Rise said. “These renovations will keep the park in good work(ing) order for many years to come. This is something that would not happen to Carroll Park … without having Dow, the Boy Scouts, Dow employees and the Northeast Citizens District Council coming together.”

Rise added that the Northeast Citizens District Council in July applied for a grant for extra funds for the project through the Bay County Community Foundation, though they are still waiting on word of its status.